Families Learning Together

Families Learning Together is a research-based parenting and life skills program designed to help young mothers address barriers to self-sufficiency so they are better able to care for themselves and their children. The program provides young parents with a host of supports to help them reach their goals. These supports include:

• Education to help finish high school, earn a GED, or attend college or training programs.
• Worksites and seminars to help develop and enhance job readiness skills.
• Parenting, wellness, and life skills classes to improve their ability to care for themselves and their children.
• Access to counseling, crisis support, and case management to address emotional and environmental barriers to self-sufficiency and effective parenting.
• On-site childcare, transportation, breakfast, and noon meal to remove barriers to participation.
• Opportunities to interact with other young mothers to help them learn to build a supportive network of friends.

In November, 2012, The Family Place was approved by the Vermont Board of Education as an Other Educational Program. This means participants enrolled in classes here can earn credit toward their high school diploma from partnering area high schools.

We use rolling admission, allowing participants to join the program throughout the year.

A mother and child

This year, the program will start on September 4th, 2012 and continue (with Holiday break) until June 21st, 2013.  Families Learning Together takes place Tuesday through Friday from 8:45am to 2:30pm.  It includes a nutritious lunch, daycare for infants and toddlers, as well as transportation.  Attending Families Learning Together will provide 20 hours of countable activity for participants enrolled in the Vermont Reach Up program.

Most of the young women in Families Learning Together live in poverty.  Many of them come from backgrounds in which they have experienced physical or sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or parental substance use.  All of them are working to create better futures for themselves and their children.

We invite you to view our brochure and visit our Families Learning Together blog. You can also download a pdf of the application.

For more information about this program, please call Helene at 802.649.3268 or 800.639.0039.